Growing number of Americans support Obama on immigration

U.S. President Barack Obama responds on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, to a reporter's question during a White House press conference. EFE

Washington, Feb 6 (EFE).- A growing number of Americans support President Barack Obama's stance on illegal immigration, and there is better support than in the past for the idea of offering citizenship to immigrants who meet certain requirements and for increasing border monitoring, according to a national survey released Wednesday.

The ABC News/Washington Post poll shows that 49 percent of Americans approve of Obama's approach to the immigration problem.

The survey found that support for Obama's work on immigration had risen 11 percent from where it stood 11 months ago.

Regarding the specific points of the president's immigration plan, 83 percent approve of the establishment of stricter controls along the border with Mexico.

Also, 55 percent of those surveyed support the idea of including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who fulfill certain conditions versus 41 percent who oppose it.

Both the proposals for comprehensive immigration reform presented by Obama and by a bipartisan Senate group open the way for eventual legalization and citizenship for the 11 million undocumented foreigners living in this country.

The main difference between the two plans is the proposal by the Senate to establish more steps to legalization for undocumented immigrants and more ways to increase security along the U.S.-Mexican border.

While 67 percent of Hispanics and 71 percent of all minority respondents approve of Obama's handling of immigration, only 38 percent of whites do.

The survey was conducted by telephone among a random group of 1,038 adults between Jan. 30-Feb. 3 and has an error margin of plus/minus 3.5 points.